PROVIDENCE – Freezing rain falling on Providence Wednesday morning will serve as a prelude for snow predicted this evening.
Accuweather.com said 1.3 inches will arrive Wednesday evening after the rain stops.
A winter storm warning by the National Weather Service remains in effect for central Rhode Island and southeast Massachusetts until 1 a.m. Thursday.
“Temperatures rapidly falling below freezing may result in a flash freeze this evening as precipitation changes back to light snow,” the weather service said in an update at 7:07 a.m. Wednesday.
In separate news this Groundhog Day, “Punxsutawney Phil,” the appointed weather forecaster, did not see its shadow at 7:25 a.m., which, according to tradition, signals an early spring. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the groundhog has not seen its shadow just 16 times since the tradition began in 1887.
Shadow or no shadow, Rhode Island cities are gearing up for Wednesday’s storm.
Providence has a citywide parking ban in effect on Wednesday from 2 a.m. to 2 p.m.; the city said cars in violation of the parking ban – including cars in school parking lots – will be ticketed and towed.
Cranston’s parking ban remains in effect until midnight, in West Warwick until 6 p.m., and in Narragansett until 1 a.m. Friday.
A parking ban in Pawtucket started Tuesday continues and the city postponed Wednesday trash and recycling pickup.
The Rhode Island Judiciary canceled court calendars and hearings for Wednesday. Courts affected include the R.I. Supreme Court, the R.I. Superior Court, the R.I. Family Court, the R.I. District Court, the R.I. Workers’ Compensation Court and the Rhode Island Traffic Tribunal.
For a full list of closings and delays, go to the turnto10.com website.
